[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 62 (Friday, March 31, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 16601]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-7888]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Environmental Impact Statement Helicopter Landings in Wilderness,
Tongass National Forest, Alaska
AGENCY: Forst Service, USDA.
ACTION: Revised notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact
statement (EIS).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The original notice of intent to prepare an environmental
impact statement for helicopter landings in Wilderness, Tongass
National Forest, Alaska was published in the August 31, 1994 Federal
Register (pages 44964-44965).
The purpose of this revised notice is to clarify the scope of
activities to be analyzed in the helicopter landings in wilderness EIS.
The EIS will include all helicopter access for recreational purposes
including tours, sightseeing, guiding and other commercial recreation
purposes. The environmental consequences of helicopter landing for
general public access will be addressed. If helicopter landings are
approved within Tongass wildernesses, allocation of those landings
between commercial visitor service providers and other members of the
public would be made in a separate process.
EFFECTIVE DATE: Written comments concerning the revised proposed action
to approve helicopter landing areas in Tongass National Forest
wilderness should be received on or before May 1, 1995.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Bill Tremblay, Team Leader USDA
Forest Service, P.O. Box 309, Petersburg, AK 99833.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Questions concerning the environmental impact statement should be
directed to Bill Tremblay, Team Leader, USDA Forest Service, P.O. Box
309, Petersburg, AK 99833, phone: (907) 772-3841.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of the project is to provide for
use of helicopters for general public access where this use was
established prior to designation of Wilderness while managing Tongass
National Forest wilderness to provide high quality Wilderness
opportunities. In this context, general public access is for activities
such as hiking, camping, photography, fishing, skiing, sightseeing,
guiding, and other Wilderness-oriented forms of recreation.
The Regional Forester, Phil Janik, will decide whether to allow
helicopter landings for access in areas that were used prior to
Wilderness designation. If helicopter landings are approved, the
Regional Forester will decide which areas will be designated and what
restrictions, if any, will be established.
Issuance of the final environmental impact statement is projected
in the spring of 1996. The Responsible official for the decision is
Phil Janik, Regional Forester, Alaska Region, P.O. Box 21628, Juneau
Alaska, 99802-1628.
Dated: March 22, 1995.
Phil Janik,
Regional Forester.
[FR Doc. 95-7888 Filed 3-30-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M
